The two-time defending champion in 3A softball, Williamsburg opens at No. 1

The number “2-3-3-1-1” is more than the ZIP code to Norfolk, Va.

It also represents the last five seasons of the Williamsburg High School softball team.

The Raiders were Class 3A runners-up in 2020, then finished third in 2021 and 2022.

The last two seasons, they have climbed to the top.

The top. That’s where Williamsburg begins 2025. The Raiders are No. 1 in the 3A preseason rankings, released Tuesday by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Waukee Northwest (5A), North Polk (4A), Van Meter (2A) and Wayne (1A) also start the season at the top of their respective classes.

Williamsburg capped a 33-12 season with a 12-9 win over Davenport Assumption in the 3A title game last season. Eight starters are back, led by three all-staters — first-teamer Jersey Metz and second-teamers Alley Gorsh and Makenna Hughes.

Northwest (34-8) tied for fifth in 5A last year and brings back nine starters, including freshman pitcher Sophia Schlader. Ankeny Centennial is second, followed by defending champion Pleasant Valley, 2024 runner-up West Des Moines Valley and Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Cedar Rapids Prairie is eighth.

North Polk (37-6) finished fourth in 4A last season and returns first-team all-staters Ava Husak and Lucy Lucas, both seniors. Second-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier (30-11) is aiming for its first state berth since 2018, and is followed by North Scott, Fort Dodge and Adel ADM.

Western Dubuque is No. 6; reigning champion Carlisle is No. 8.

Williamsburg is followed in 3A by last year’s runner-up Davenport Assumption. Dubuque Wahlert is third, Mount Vernon fourth, Monroe PCM fifth. Benton Community is No. 6.

Van Meter (43-1) carries a 40-game win streak and is top-ranked in 2A despite the graduation of pitcher Maddie Waldorf. Last year’s runner-up, Audubon/Exira-EHK is No. 2.

A state qualifier for each of the last seven seasons, Lisbon (28-13) is third, then Louisa-Muscatine and West Fork round out the top five. Perennial power Iowa City Regina is eighth.

Wayne (25-5) tied for fifth in the small-school class in 2024. Last year’s runner-up, Martensdale-St. Marys is No. 2, followed by Newell-Fonda, Fort Dodge St. Edmond and Clarksville.

Edgewood-Colesburg and North Linn are No. 6 and No. 8, respectively. Defending champion Sigourney opens at No. 15.

IGHSAU preseason softball rankings

CLASS 5A

1. Waukee Northwest (34-8)

2. Ankeny Centennial (29-10)

3. Pleasant Valley (40-3)

4. West Des Moines Valley (38-5)

5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (24-16)

6. Muscatine (28-11)

7. Ankeny (22-22)

8. Cedar Rapids Prairie (24-19)

9. Southeast Polk (20-21)

10. Johnston (30-11)

11. Waukee (20-19)

12. Iowa City Liberty (23-12)

13. Indianola (20-18)

14. Dubuque Senior (26-13)

15. Ames (23-18)

CLASS 4A

1. North Polk (37-6)

2. Cedar Rapids Xavier (30-11)

3. North Scott (32-6)

4. Fort Dodge (31-13)

5. Adel ADM (31-10)

6. Western Dubuque (30-11)

7. Norwalk (30-8)

8. Carlisle (37-8)

9. Clear Creek Amana (25-13)

10. Dallas Center-Grimes (32-10)

11. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (29-7)

12. Winterset (23-17)

13. Pella (22-12)

14. Burlington (23-6)

15. Creston (20-16)

CLASS 3A

1. Williamsburg (33-12)

2. Davenport Assumption (27-13)

3. Dubuque Wahlert (31-11)

4. Mount Vernon (30-12)

5. Monroe PCM (25-5)

6. Benton Community (32-9)

7. Estherville ELC (32-7)

8. Clarinda (33-8)

9. West Liberty (21-11)

10. Washington (24-12)

11. Atlantic (27-13)

12. West Lyon (22-4)

13. Center Point-Urbana (16-19)

14. West Marshall (25-9)

15. Chariton (16-10)

CLASS 2A

1. Van Meter (43-1)

2. Audubon/Exira-EHK (29-5)

3. Lisbon (28-13)

4. Louisa-Muscatine (30-5)

5. East Marshall (33-6)

6. West Monona (33-9)

7. West Fork (18-9)

8. Iowa City Regina (20-13)

9. Central Springs (18-10)

10. Durant (22-16)

11. Hudson (26-10)

12. Jesup (23-9)

13. Osage (23-10)

14. Treynor (16-12)

15. Pleasantville (19-15)

CLASS 1A

1. Wayne (25-5)

2. Martensdale-St. Marys (30-7)

3. Newell-Fonda (27-7)

4. Fort Dodge St. Edmond (26-7)

5. Clarksville (21-10)

6. Edgewood-Colesburg (29-12)

7. Southeast Warren (25-3)

8. North Linn (24-14)

9. Woodbury Central (21-10)

10. Ankeny Christian (18-7)

11. Collins-Maxwell (28-4)

12. Akron-Westfield (21-7)

13. Woodbine (17-4)

14. Central City (28-13)

15. Sigourney (26-7)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com